Noob question about drivers

I have an X-Drive 1.8amp driver that I planned on using with a 2 cell blue 2w blue laser.

But I believe that the driver only cares about current, not so much voltage. So if I use this same 1.8amp driver with a single cell can I use it for a 1W red laser?

Looking at DTR's pictures it looks like the Oclaro 700mW diode can run at 1.8amps. I see that running at 1.8amps the diode has less output than at 1.7 - does that mean that it is too much current. If so, should I just stick to my original plan of building a 2W blue laser?



Thanks for the help.

EDIT: I take back what I said about the power peaking at 1.7A since I don't actually know what the second decimal is on that readout. I was assuming it was a two, but it looks like an error with the BCD or seven segment encoder but I'm not so sure.

Oh that is way past the efficiency curve. Really on those I have been running the 700mW Oclaro's up to about 1.2A. Anything over that you are pushing it.:beer:

DTR said:

Oh that is way past the efficiency curve. Really on those I have been running the 700mW Oclaro's up to about 1.2A. Anything over that you are pushing it.:beer:

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Thanks. I thought it would be fun to do something other then blue, but it would be double the price for me to buy a new driver and red diode as it would be for me to just buy a new blue diode.

If you are comfortable soldering small things you can change out the resistors on the driver.

DTR said:

If you are comfortable soldering small things you can change out the resistors on the driver.

Click to expand...

Didn't even cross my mind. And since the host I'm using is a 26650 host I wouldn't have to buy an 18650 adapter tube (which I would use 2x 18350s in) and my run-time at 1W with a 26650 would almost be 6x a 2W with two 18350s.

Is it the big resistor on the side of the driver that I have to change, or some of the 5 small ones that are labeled? And how do I calculate the new resistance I need to change it to?